Chong Wei, Nicol continue to be Penang's best

National badminton ace Lee Chong Wei and squash queen Nicol David were crowned Penang Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year 2011 respectively. It is the fourth consecutive award for the duo.

However, both of them were unable to be present to receive the award from Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at the 2011 Sports Award ceremony yesterday.

Chong Wei was represented by Penang Badminton Association president Dr Koay Ban Hing, while Nicol was represented by her father, Desmond David, 65.

Nicol, who had just participated in the 2012 WSF Women's World Team Championship in France, could not attend the ceremony as she is undergoing her routine training in Amsterdam.

Apart from winning the Sportswoman of the Year award, Nicol, who is also world number one, also won the Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri Cup Award 2011.

Each of them took home a challenge trophy, an accompanying trophy, a certificate of appreciation and cash of RM3,000.

Karate athlete, Lim Chee Wei, 21, who bagged the bronze medal at the 26th SEA Games and the gold medal at the Singapore Open last year, was named Most Promising Sportsman. Young swimmer, Emanuelle Mah Thil Da, 17, was named the Most Promising Sportswoman due to her promising success in winning the gold medal at the SEA Games and a silver medal at the Malaysia Games in Kuala Lumpur.

They each received a challenge trophy, an accompanying trophy, a certificate of appreciation and RM2,000.

The 2011 Best Team Award was won by the karate teams in the men's and women's categories based on their remarkable gold medal achievements at the 26th SEA Games.

They also received a challenge trophy, an accompanying trophy, a certificate of appreciation and RM2,500.